Albanian Naval Defense Forces
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The Albanian Naval Defence Forces (Albanian: Forcat e Mbrojtjes Detare Shqipetare) are the naval branch of the Albanian military. Their name was changed from the Coastal Defense Command of the Albanian Army in 1996. With the new structure the naval forces are regrouped in the Albanian Navy Brigade under the Albanian Joint Forces Command. The Albanian Navy Brigade Headquarters is located in Durrës, and operates 2 bases. One in Durrës (Kepi i Palit base) and one in Vlora, Pashaliman base. The vessels of the Albanian Navy Brigade are comprised mostly of patrol craft and support craft, most of which are donated from Italy and USA. Former Soviet or Chinese boats have been retired from service. Only 2 Soviet built minesweepers remain still in service, until the arrival of 4 big patrol boats Damen Stan Type 4207 from the Netherlands. The Navy performs mainly Coast Guard duties, based on the concept of One Force two Missions. The legal framework has been updated in order to facilitate these missions and EU - NATO integration. Turkey and Greece are also assisting Albania in a common effort to modernize the actual Naval Academy and rebuild the repair facilities in Pashaliman district.
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[edit] Fleet
[edit] Mine Warfare Ships
2 x Project 254 (T-43)
[edit] Patrol boats
1 x Project 122bis (Kronshtadt)
1 x Shanghai II class
[edit] Service Craft
1x repair craft (ex-LCT Mk 3 Landing vessel)
1x Project 522 (Nyryat-1) Diving Support Vessel
1x Project 368 (Poluchat)
2x Project 501 (PO-2)
1x survey boat
1x lighter
[edit] Coast Guard patrol boats
3x Sea Spectre PB MK III class
2x 45ft US "Patrol Craft, Coastal" (PCC-class; ex-US Coast Guard)
4x Italian Type 227 "Super Speranza" or "CP 231" class
1x 44ft Lifeboat type (US)
7x Type 51/ "Keith Nelson-Design" harbor launches
 Forgotten glory. Once the backbone of the Albanian Navy: the Chinese Huchuan PHT class fast attack boats. |
 The 2nd Flotillia Base at Pashaliman, Vlora. |
 The 1st Flotillia of the Albanian Navy Brigade in Kepi i Palit Navy base. |
 Side view of the Albanian minesweeper M-111 |
 Project 122bis, a Soviet made sub-hunter patrol craft, known by with NATO designation as Kronshtadt class, sole one still in use with the Albanian Navy Brigade |
 Details of the main 37mm AA (Antiaircraft) guns of the M-111 minesweeper. |
 R-215, an ex-US patrol boat, donated to the Albanian Navy Brigade |
 US made boats, Sea Spectre PB MK III class, in use with Albanian Navy Brigade |
 R-117,used by the Albanian Navy Brigade. |
 The Italian made Type 227 Super Speranza boat in use with the Albanian Navy Brigade. |
[edit] History
Until 1996 Albania had more than 145 vessels in service. 45 of them were small, fast Chinese Type 25 Huchuan Class PHT torpedo boats, carrying two/four 533 mm Torpedoes, and some Shanghai-class coastal ASW patrol craft. The glory of the fleet were 4 Soviet built Whiskey class submarines, a direct result of an Albanian - Soviet dispute over their ownership, after Albanian abandon of the Warsaw Pact (1961) and the Soviet abandon of the Pashaliman base. The submarines were in full service thanks to Chinese assistance, but by the end of 80's their efficiency was in doubt due to Albanian isolation and the end of Chinese assistance. Officially, the Albanian Whiskey class submarines, were retired in 1998. One of the submarines completed a 22 day under water training trip in the surroundings of Malta on 1968.
 Once upon an Army. Albanian People's Navy. Soviet made PO-2 Torpedo boats. Late 1950s. Note the men on the masts. This torpedo boat didn't have any radar capability, thus replaced by human eyesight. |
 PO-2 training. |
 PO-2 on attack formation. |
 Short Air Defence 14.5 mm Heavy Machine guns on PO-2. |
 P0-2 14.5 mm maschine gunner details. |
 Chinese made fast attack torpedo boats Huchuan PHT class used by the Albanian Navy. This picture is taken at Sazan Island, a former Navy base. |
 Often communications between torpedo boats were flag based. Note the small 2 miles range radar. |
 A sailor stands by a 533 mm torpedo tube on a Huchuan PHT fast attack boat. |
 A Kronshtadt Class gunboat. The ship is still in use with the Albanian Navy Brigade. |
.jpg/120px-Coastal_Minesweeper_TYP_MT_(projekt_253L).jpg) Early 60's. A soviet coastal Minesweeper used by the Albanian Navy. Type MT or known also as Project 253L. |
 Once upon a time. The four Whiskey class submarines on their glory days. |
 Late 1970s. No. 126 Whiskey on surface navigation. |
 Radiolocation. |
 The 1950s. The first years of the Albanian Navy. 4 year conscription service. |
 Classic Navy uniform of the communist era. |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
Wertheim, Eric. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 2005-2006; Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. US Naval Institute Press. Annapolis, Maryland. 2005.
